Probe shift to delay action

The probe into the alleged extortion demand by former Saran deputy inspector-general (DIG) of police Alok Kumar is likely to be delayed.

Alok landed in trouble after a representative of a liquor manufacturing company accused the DIG of demanding Rs 10 crore as extortion from him.

Chief minister Nitish Kumar has sought to know from the police headquarters why the allegations against the 1997-batch IPS officer were probed by the economic offences unit (EOU) and not by the Vigilance Investigation Bureau, an anti-corruption wing of the state government.

A top-ranking officer posted at the police headquarters said the chief minister was not happy with the way the probe was conducted against the Jammu and Kashmir cadre officer currently in Bihar on inter-state deputation.

The officer, who did not wish to be identified, said the matter would have been probed by the vigilance bureau because the charges were levelled against a serving public servant. But that did not happen and the investigation was conducted by the EOU, he said.

Home department principal secretary Amir Subhani said the report on the former DIG has been received from the police headquarters. "It is being examined at the government level and further action will be taken accordingly," he said.

Director-general of police Abhayanand could not be contacted for a comment. Sources said the CM's comment would delay action against the DIG.

"Now, the senior police officers will have to look into the case afresh and explain the circumstances the EOU was assigned the probe instead of the vigilance bureau. That is a time-consuming exercise," an officer said. The DGP had assigned the EOU to probe the allegations after he received a complaint from one Tunnaji Pandey on January 13.

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